When in a training partnership with David Eustace, Ciaron Maher had the knack of getting a stayer that had raced through winter to peak for The Bart Cummings at Flemington. Maher and Eustace won the Group 3 race over 2520m on three occasions in the past four years, with each victor… Read More »
Godolphin might have opted for a senior rider on Golden Rose runner-up Traffic Warden, but they have put their faith in stable apprentice Zac Lloyd to deliver their next major aboard Zardozi in the Group 1 Metropolitan at Randwick. Lloyd partnered Traffic Warden to his brilliant first-up win in The Run To… Read More »
Health issues to horse and co-trainer have not stopped Team Rogerson from returning to Melbourne for their chance at Spring Carnival glory. Graeme and Debbie Rogerson are back with Sharp ‘N’ Smart who is entered for the Group 1 treble of the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. But first there… Read More »
Joe Pride has come out swinging at the Australian Turf Club’s decision to lease its Everest slot to Giga Kick’s owner Jonathan Munz just two days before that horse’s clash with his top sprinter Think About It in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick. The ATC confirmed on Thursday that it… Read More »
John Messara knew the budget had been blown when he bought the highest-priced lot of last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. The Arrowfield Stud boss went to $1.8 million for the daughter of Arrowfield stallion The Autumn Sun and Via Africa, who we now know as Autumn Glow. It is… Read More »
Form references around two of the first three horses across the line in the Golden Rose have given connections of Just Party the confidence to bypass a midweek assignment in favour of a black-type mission at Randwick. The three-year-old was scratched from a benchmark race against older horses at Rosehill on… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse shares the Epsom Handicap training record of seven wins with her legendary father Tommy Smith, but her training partner Adrian Bott is yet to taste victory in the feature Randwick mile. The pair will have two runners in Saturday’s renewal, favourite Royal Patronage and the rejuvenated Major Beel, with… Read More »
A few extra training sessions in the barrier stalls have helped improving Tulloch Lodge gelding The Three Hundred post an overdue maiden win at Rosehill. The horse started an odds-on favourite first-up at Hawkesbury last month but went up in the air as the gates opened, losing valuable ground before… Read More »
Trainer Mark Walker was enduring a tough day at the office prior to the maiden victory of Exuberance at Cranbourne. Walker was at Cranbourne on Wednesday having overseen trackwork on Tuesday in the lead-up to the Turnbull Stakes Day meeting at Flemington on Saturday. In between races at Cranbourne, Walker was tuned… Read More »
Rising trainer Alex Rae and the connections of Lofty Arch will not die wondering. Lofty Arch heads straight to Stakes company at Flemington on Saturday to contest the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) having won a Cranbourne maiden over 1200m on debut. Rae reasoned the son of Snitzel was worth testing in… Read More »
The decision by Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes to geld Arkansaw Kid has already paid a dividend, with more expected. Up for grabs for Arkansaw Kid is the potential to race for $30 million in two upcoming Sydney races, but first there is the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse has had plenty to get excited about on Epsom Handicap Day over the years, but it is not just the Group 1s that have had her up and about. The Hall of Fame trainer gets just as excited about pulling the covers off her juveniles in the Breeders’ Plate… Read More »
Autumn Glow is a long odds-on favourite to continue her winning march in the Flight Stakes, and a rival trainer admits it might take the Chris Waller filly having an off day to bring about her first defeat. John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will be represented in the Group 1 by Snow In… Read More »
The countdown is on towards the feature Cups and the Turnbull Stakes Day meeting at Flemington is moving day in many eyes. The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on Saturday is a race, in particular, that shines the light on the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 with… Read More »
The $20 million The Everest might have changed the shape of the Sydney spring carnival, but for premier trainer Chris Waller, the traditional Epsom Handicap day meeting remains pivotal. Waller is preparing to saddle up 16 runners across the three majors at Randwick on Saturday with up to four fillies… Read More »
There is a sense of dĂ©jĂ vu about the belated decision to head to the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick with Arctic Glamour, two years after her trainers made a similarly late call to run Ellsberg. Co-conditioner Gerald Ryan revealed the Epsom had only firmed on their radar over the… Read More »
Golden Slipper-winning filly Lady Of Camelot has become the latest horse confirmed for a start in the $20 million The Everest. The three-year-old’s owner, Sir Owen Glenn, reached an agreement with James Harron Bloodstock to lease its slot for 2024, paving the way for Lady Of Camelot to take her place… Read More »
Trainer Stephen Miller will be out to score a second consecutive win in tomorrow’s Hannans Handicap (1400m), when he saddles up Rokanori. The six-year-old stormed into contention for the Kalgoorlie feature when he took out the TABtouch Stakes (1600m) at Belmont last Saturday week. Stephen Miller, who won last year’s… Read More »
Unbeaten galloper Glasgow Lass will miss the upcoming Pinnacles carnival, after a setback at trackwork on Saturday. The filly was set to trial in the next fortnight, ahead of a tilt at the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot later this month. Trainer Mitchell Pateman said while it was disappointing not… Read More »
Last year’s winner of the Melbourne Cup, Without A Fight, is a notable omission from the 72 horses that remain in contention for Australia’s great race. Without A Fight was topweight when weights were released on September 17, but the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper, who has not raced since… Read More »
